Deadland

Chapter 56- Rabbit

(TW!! Mentions of s/a!!)

We left the house in the morning, which I did so gladly. I was a toy for another person, though they chickened out at the last second. Pretty much everyone else has wanted to but hasn't been able to for some sort of reason.

Thanks, Dad.

My shirt is still cut open but they wouldn't allow me to change or tie it so my bra and stomach are still out for show. My shirt is just a vest at this point. 

"It's a symbol," Joe says. "Of a job well done." 

My eye is black and I have a bruise on my cheekbone from John's fist last night.

We've been traveling around the city for a while. I've been secretly searching for Alyssa as we've walked throughout the city.

"So," Joe starts, falling into step with me. "Adrian." I roll my eyes but don't respond. "You have a family?" "No." "Friends?" "They're all dead. And if they're not," I look Joe in the eyes. "They should be." 

His eyebrows raise in surprise, "Why's that?" 

"So they don't have to interact with shits like you." 

Joe lets out a hearty laugh, "Damn. You've got a mouth on you-" 

"Don't finish that sentence." He smirks, "Alright then." 

"So, no friends. No family. Boyfriend?" I don't respond. "So that's a-" "No." I quickly look at him. "It's a no. I have no one. Now stop fucking talking to me." I turn back to the road and pick up the pace.

I keep a decent amount of distance between me and everyone else. If I'm close to them there's usually a butt grab, waist grab, their hands are usually on me if I'm in arm's reach. I even got pulled into one of their chests to feel him hard under his jeans. 

I've completely shut down again. It's like how I was when we were at the first camp, with Amy and Jacqui and everyone. I don't cry anymore and I don't know if I smile anymore because they suck at trying to make me smile. 

"You'd be prettier if you'd smile." One of them says. Or, "C'mon, just a teensy little smile?" 

They piss me off more than words can express. 

I see something on the ground that catches my attention, 

A bracelet.

I quickly yell "Claimed." And run over and grab it. Joe laughs and claps his hands, "Your first claim is a..." He looks at my hands. "Bracelet?" 

I don't respond, I just look at it. 

It's purple, green, and brown with a few strands of white here and there. 

I wish I could say I smile, or a tear forms, but I can't. I just look at the bracelet with a dead expression. 

"What's so special about...that." A man named Billy asks.

Lie.

"I used to make them." I lie, not looking away from the bracelet.

"What Nick did to you..." Alyssa starts. I'm sitting in the hospital bed after overdosing and telling everyone everything. "You don't deserve that."

"You're pretty, yes, but..." Her teary eyes meet mine. "If you didn't want to, you shouldn't have had to." 

My lip quivers as I stare at the bracelet though no tears form. 

God, I need Alyssa right now.

"Yo! Let's go!" Joe yells, waving me to continue to walk. I quickly shove the bracelet into my backpack and walk decently behind them, still trying to keep my distance.